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3 unusual facts about IAAF World Cross Country Championships


Italica

The senior international competition has featured numerous world champions and (with IAAF permit meeting status) it is one of the world's foremost annual cross country competitions.

Jim Knoedel

In 1996 he coached the USA Women's Ekiden team competing in Yokohama, Japan, and in 1999, the Junior Men's Coach at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Tatyana Borisova

Borisova has competed at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships twice (in 2002 and 2003), and also in the IAAF World Championships in Athletics twice, running in the 1500 m in 2001 and 2003.


2009 European Cross Country Championships

Ireland had hosted the World Cross Country Championships in 1979 and 2002, but this was the first time that Ireland had ever hosted a major European athletics competition.

Chris Derrick

As a high school senior at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois, Derrick gained recognition when he won the Illinois state cross country championship and set the course record on the altered Detweiller Park course, possibly eclipsing the time that Craig Virgin (the only American to ever win at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships) ran on the original course.

Grete Waitz

She further demonstrated her versatility by successfully competing in cross country, earning two bronze medals (1982, 1984) at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and winning the gold medal five times, (1978-1981 and 1983), tying her with Doris Brown Heritage for most wins in the history of women's International/World Cross Country Championships.

John Ngugi

Born in Kigumo, Muranga District, John Ngugi's earliest international successes came at the World Cross Country Championships, where he won a record four consecutive titles between 1986 and 1989 and five titles overall.


see also